900 K in 4 days

Greetings to all. I wasn't actually sleeping as Julie said, I was passed out! I am enjoying a day of rest after pushing through the last 5 stages in 4 days. For those uninitiated to cycling or the metric system 900 Kilometers is approximately 560 miles and it's been a combination of up, down, hot, cold, wet, smooth, rough and every other weather and cycling related comparison one could muster. I have had a lot of hours alone and while your mind does drift there is a quite a need to stay focused on the task at hand. As simple and repititious as pedaling a bike would seem, there is one disaster or another waiting to grab you at anytime and I'm doing my best to avoid any mishap that could derail this ambition. The small laminated daily route maps that Julie made for me before the trip have allowed me to navigate the entire route and get through the towns and side roads that the tour ventures through on its way around France and in and out of neighboring countries. I have been lost so many times despite this that I stopped counting but it adds in the few K's that I may be missing from the start or finish of the rides. These departing and ending locations are very difficult to pinpoint and without the benefit of signage, motor escorts and road closures, it is most difficult to pilot my way into and out of the bigger cities. I have asked for directions from shop owners and pedestrians along the way and all have been very courteous to help direct me but few can speak but a few words of English. I know about as much French but somehow with a combination of words and hand signals, we communicate and I head on down the road with blind faith and dumb luck as my guide. Many of the small towns that the tour passes through along the way are decorated with banners, flowers, bicycles, etc. I enjoy the color but of course there are no waiting crowds to cheer me on as you see on TV. Mostly just people out going through their daily routines or tidying up their town for the arrival of Le Tour! Julie has mentioned the role that Fred and Gerry have played in this trip and for the three of them (Julie, I love you) I am eternally grateful. It is amazing what generous people they have all been to combine their time and energy on my behalf. I know their are moments of enjoyment for them but frankly I also realize that going everyday from point A-B worrying about a solo cyclist on the road for 8+ hours is probably not it. I mentioned that there is time for the mind to wander a bit and typically what happens is that people just pop into my head while I'm riding and I somehow draw a smile or some inspiration from something they have said to me before I left, a post left on the blog or just from the relationship that we have. I could not mention everyone but I have laughed over John Kugler's remark to "bee safe", Sheila Urbach told me I have "big balls for just trying this", Matt Landen told me how "jealous" he was and Chris Spence told me I was "an inspiration". My Father-In-Law causes me to live in fear for the "adventure" I took his daughter on and my Mom, the ultimate lover of travel and adventure, just reminds me of the energy one can draw from the spirit of adventure. Julie is my rock of encouragement and is always there to wish me off in the morning, make me a water bottle, find me a pastry or help with my daily rituals. I have promised her our next vacation will not involve a bike! Tonight we will shortly go to dinner at the hotel restaurant in Pontarlier. France. With my last rest day nearly complete, I will begin Stage 15 of 21 tomorrow into the high mountains of the high mountains of the Swiss Alps. My ride is 207 kilometers and includes 4 Category 3 climbs, 1 Category 2 climb and 1 Category 1 climb to finish the day in Verbier, Switzerland. All that is a bunch of biker talk meaning I'm going to be going uphill a lot tomorrow. When I started this trip I had a lot of self doubt about what was and was not possible. I kept most of those thoughts to myself and will continue to do keep them tucked away for now. I go into the final week knowing that the toughest is yet to come but my morale is high and my determination is strong. Keep your kind thoughts coming and I'll continue to draw on your collective strength.
Oh, and one last thing! I have saved this for the end of this post and don't know when I will get to write again but for all those I have mentioned I just wanted to say a special thanks to my kids, Mike and Liz. It's funny how a family supports each other during times of "high and low tide" and I have two kids who have given me every ounce of encouragement and support back that I have ever given to them. I mentioned all the people who pop into and out of my head during the ride and they are the ones who I visualize and listen too most often. Mike (also a cyclist) and his wife, Jenny, proud new parents of my grandaughter, Lucy, in Baltimore! And Liz, my favorite daughter in Minneapolis. To both of you I just want you to know that I'm going to nail this thing and you will be there with me at the top of Mont Ventoux.

Love to all.

Dave